Techmeme: Windows 8.1 users can now sign up to test Skype's real-time speech translation tool (Emil Protalinski/VentureBeat)

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November 3, 2014, 3:05 PM

Top News

Ian Leader / Gmail Blog:

Google updates Calendar for Android 4.1+ devices with auto event creation from emails, Schedule View with photos and maps — A new day for Google Calendar — Today we're introducing a brand new Google Calendar app. It's designed to be a helpful assistant, so you can spend less time managing your day, and more time enjoying it.

More: The Verge, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Pocket-lint, VentureBeat, Business Insider, ZDNet, 9to5Google, 9to5Mac, The Next Web, Android Police, MobileSyrup.com, TIME, iPhone in Canada Blog, iDownloadBlog.com, Lifehacker, SlashGear, Droid Life and WebProNews

Hollywood Reporter:

Sources: Christian Bale withdraws from role as Steve Jobs in upcoming Aaron Sorkin film — Christian Bale Exits Steve Jobs Movie (Exclusive) — Sources say the actor came to the conclusion he was not right for the part and decided to withdraw — Christian Bale will not be Steve Jobs after all.

More: 9to5Mac, AppleInsider, Gizmodo, iMore, The Next Web, Cult of Mac, iDownloadBlog.com, App Advice, SlashGear and The Verge

Mark Gurman / 9to5Mac:

Source: internal Apple message narrows Apple Watch launch date to “spring” 2015; customers will be able to try on different models in stores — Apple Retail SVP Angela Ahrendts: Apple Watch launching in “Spring,” after Chinese New Year — The Apple Watch's launch is scheduled …

Chris Velazco / Engadget:

Nexus 9 review: great Lollipop tablet, powerful CPU, display and speakers could be better — Google Nexus 9 review: The first taste of Lollipop is a sweet one — It's been nearly five years since Google released its very first Nexus device, and by now we all basically get what the Nexus name stands for.

More: TechCrunch, 9to5Google, The Verge, Android Police, ZDNet, ZDNet, Gigaom, VentureBeat, AnandTech, Wired and Android Beat

Brad Molen / Engadget:

Android 5 Lollipop preview: intuitive notifications, better performance and battery life, developer tools strongly improve Android experience — Android 5.0 Lollipop preview: Google's biggest mobile update in years — There's something magical about the idea that, in the space of a few minutes …

More: TechCrunch

Eric Slivka / MacRumors:

Next Wave of Apple Pay Bank Launches Begins With Navy Federal, USAA, US Bank, PNC — Apple's October 20 debut for Apple Pay included support from many of the biggest banks in the United States, including Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Bank of America, but the company has said it has over 500 …

More: 9to5Mac, The Verge, AppleInsider, PR Newswire, Cult of Mac, iMore, App Advice, iDownloadBlog.com, NFC World+ and MacNN

Nicole Lee / Engadget:

Dabbling in the future of payment: A week of Apple Pay and Google Wallet — On Monday last week, Apple finally launched Apple Pay, the company's mobile-payment system that only works with the iPhone 6, 6 Plus and the latest iPads. (Though you can't use iPads for in-store payments.)

More: Benzinga, Gigaom, 9to5Mac, BGR and Wall Street Journal

Bertel King, Jr / Android Police:

Nexus 9 And Nexus Player Now Available For Purchase From Google Play, Nexus 9 From Best Buy — You could have pre-ordered a Nexus 9 or a Nexus Player two weeks ago, and I have no doubt that many of you did. But for everyone taking the wait-and-see approach, the two devices are both now available for purchase from the Play Store.

Kristen Schweizer / Bloomberg:

Publicis Buys Sapient for $3.7 Billion in Digital Ad Push — Publicis Groupe SA (PUB), agreed to pay $3.7 billion for Sapient (SAPE) Corp., pushing the third-largest advertising company deeper into digital offerings and the U.S. as it moves past the distraction of a failed merger with Omnicom Group Inc.

More: TechCrunch, AdExchanger, Marketing Land, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, BBC and Business Insider. Tweets: @danprimack. See also Mediagazer

Darrell Etherington / TechCrunch:

Apple Partners With Southwest To Offer Free In-Flight Streaming Via Beats Music — Apple continues to roll out its Beats Music streaming service to new venues, despite the fact that there have been rumors of its imminent demise. Today, Beats Music announced a partnership with Southwest Airlines …

More: Southwest Airlines …, 9to5Mac, GeekWire, iMore, MacRumors, AppleInsider, The Verge, CNET, Electronista, Cult of Mac, RAIN News, SlashGear, iDownloadBlog.com and TUAW

Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat:

Windows 8.1 users can now sign up to test Skype's real-time speech translation tool — Skype today announced the free Skype Translator preview program. While you can't test the company's real-time speech translation tool just yet, you can sign up to do so here.

More: Skype Blogs, GeekWire, ZDNet, MacRumors, The Next Web, TechCrunch and iDownloadBlog.com

Tweets: @theromit and @msicc

Ben Lovejoy / 9to5Mac:

Starwood Hotels begins rollout of iPhone/Apple Watch virtual room keys, Hilton to follow (Video) — Starwood Hotels has officially launched its SPG Keyless service, allowing guests to use their iPhone (and, in the Spring, Apple Watch) to unlock their hotel doors, bypassing the front desk.

More: Computerworld, Hilton Worldwide Global …, Gizmodo, AppleInsider, Gotta Be Mobile, Gigaom, TUAW and Electronista

Mark Gurman / 9to5Mac:

Apple plans Apple University in China, bringing Jobs' vision to Asia — Tim Cook speaking at a conference in China — Apple is seeking to cement its business position in China for the long-term with an expansion of its Cupertino-based Apple University program to the region, according to a person with knowledge of the plans.

More: iPhone in Canada Blog

Ron Amadeo / Ars Technica:

Nexus Player review: video playback not smooth, slow, buggy, only 70 games and apps in store, great gamepad — Google's Nexus Player: More prototype than finished product — The Nexus Player remote, box, and controller. — Just about every major tech company offers some device …

More: The Verge and BetaNews

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